The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-11-15
The Hammersmith Mystery,

Mr.. Martin Stuckey had been a pros
porous colonial merchant in his day,
but at the age OF ffty-five he encoun-
tered a succession OF misiortunes which
ultimately landed him in the Bank
ruptcy Court. When that crisis was
past he went to live in a small house
at Hammersmith with his wife, his
younger son, Ephraim, and one SER
want. Not long after his wife died,
and this last blow reduced the old
man to complete wreck. He became
childish, and lost his memory 80 COM
pletely that he had no recollection OF
ordinary events from day to day,
which was, perhaps, a merciful dis
pensation OF Providence after all.
Ephraim Stuckey was now the mas
ter OF the house, though the house it.
self belonged to the father, having
been purchased with some money OF
Mrs. Stuckey's. Ephraim vas
stock. broker in small way OF bust
ness, which might have been larger If
Ephraim himself had been fonder OF
work, and had combined little more
ereediness for the commissions OF
clients with little less faith in grand
speculative coups on his own account.
He was addicted to grumbling at the
hardships OF his lot, and more particu-
larly at the burden OF keeping "the
old man." as he called his father.
This, however. was as unreasonable
as it was undutiful. for not only was
Ephraim living rent-free in his fathers
house, but old Mr.. Stuckey's mainte-
nance was fully provided for by the
elder son, Alfred. Alfred, in his fathers
palmy days, had been put into the
Church. He was now a curate in a
Midland County parish on a princely
stipend OF 1900 year, out OF which
he contributed ESQ q year to his IA
theirs support-quite enough to leave
a margin OF profit for Ephriam. II
any one, therefore, had reason to
grumble at the prolongation OF theia
theirs life it was Alfred. It must be
mentioned, however, that there was
one small expectation for both the
sons upon their fathers death. Mar
tin Stuckey showed no immediate like.
lihood OF enabling his sons to realize
This investment. Since the break
down OF his mind his bodily health
had much improved, as not unfre-
quently happens in such cases,
and his mental incapacity was
not OF kind to cause
anxiety. There mad been at one time
question between the brothers about
providing him with an attendant,
but Ephraim was opposed to unneces-
sary expense, and pointed out that
the old gentleman never left the house
unless by invitation, and that, while
within doors, he was perfectly under
the control of those about him, in.
Guiding even the one maid-servant OF
the EST ablishment-a trustworthy
Young woman, who had been with the
family for some years. The truth was
that thosold gentleman was so sub.
missive that, il so ordered, he would
remain in one room for hours togeth-
or, and, under these circumstances, 1t
really seemed that Ephraim and the
maid were quite capable OF looking
after him. This idea, however, turned
out to be erroneous.
The Rev. Alfred Stuckey did not
often visit London, but when he did
so he always endeavored to spend q
day with his father. On such occa-
sions he would generally take the old
gentleman out with him for the day,
protesting to think that he was too
much confined to the house. One day,
about the middle of October, Ephra-
i'm Stuckey informed the maid-ser-
want that his brother was coming
to town, and added that, II Alfred
should take his father out, as he
sometimes did, she had better take a
days holiday.
In due course the Rev. Alfred arriv.
ed, and, after spending a night at the
house, he said that he would take his
father BY steamboat to Richmond Tor
tba dav Thu maid WAS accordingly